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Monday, October 30, 2006

Double life

I lead a double life. By day I'm a graduate student, working quietly on a project that only interests a few hundred people in my narrow field of study. But by night I'm a superhero with unfathomable powers, waiting to save the world; I'm a double agent, working to bring down a nefarious group of international spies using inprobable tactics and a colourful array of wigs; and I'm a bitchy, self-loving supermodel selecting America's next top model. Did I mention I do all of that from the comfort of my couch? Yes, I admit I'm a television junkie. I watch television without pity and I love it. There used to be a time when I was ashamed of this antisocial behaviour, but I've long outgrown that self-loathing phase of my life. I have now come to unabashedly embrace the sedantary lifestyle: sweatpants, freshly baked Pilsbury chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate with marshmellows, and a virgin episode of Heroes to share with the perfect company is my favorite recipe for a winter evening. Goodbye Daylight Saving Time; hello Prime Time!

Your Favorite Jerk

Maybe I've got the mono

I've been sleeping a lot lately. Maybe I've got the mono. Or maybe I'm just lazy. Sleep: the best vacation money can't buy.

Your Favorite Jerk

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!

It's 2:00AM and I've spent the entire day making figures. Suddenly, I see this video and my day is great :) A toast to the little things in life.



Your Favorite Jerk

Thursday, October 19, 2006

A cut above

I finally managed to get a decent haircut this week. Apparently, the use of electric clippers is entirely optional; note to self: ask for a scissor trim from now on. Now I feel cheated that I wasn't made aware of this option before. Come to think of it, when I used to get my hair cut in Chinatown, there were no options. I was seated, shorn nearly to the scalp with electric clippers and shown the door five minutes later. Some things are worth spending an extra few dollars for. A decent haircut that doesn't take a month to "sort itself out" is one of those.


Your Favorite Jerk


P.S.

I read this yesterday, and couldn't help but laugh. Now that I read it again, it isn't quite as funny, but for those who still remember highschool chemistry, this might elicit a chuckle:

Jimmy was a chemist's son
but Jimmy is no more
What Jimmy thought was H2O
Was H2SO4

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

龍頭蛇尾

Since childhood I've been afflicted by a disease so common that the Chinese have a special adjective to describe the afflicted: 龍頭蛇尾 (lóng tóu shé wěi), a chimera with the the head of a dragon but the tail of a snake. This satirical creature impresses with the splendor and majesty of the dragon but invariably disappoints when its much meeker tail is exposed. This is an apt and poetic description of someone with great initial passion but no appreciable follow-through. Sadly, it's also a pretty good description of me, and the piano in my parents' apartment that serves as an expensive decorative piece is testament to that. As I embark on a difficult (and hopefully long) journey to learn to play the guitar, I hope I can tone down the initial excitement and crank up the stick-to-it-tiveness. I will try to be less like a dragon with a snake's tail and more like a possum with the body of an armadillo. Less poetic, I'm sure, but perhaps more pragmatic.

Your Favorite Jerk

Monday, October 09, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomlin just reminded me that two Thanksgivings ago, we went to see Explosions in the Sky. It has been 730 days since then, and in each one of them there is a countless number of things to be thankful for. Have a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving everyone.

Your Favorite Jerk

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Air Farce

I went to a live taping of the Royal Canadian Air Farce last night at CBC's 10th floor studio on John St. This was the second live taping of a television show I've attended. I went to my first one--a taping of Jeopardy in Culver City, CA--three years ago, but missed the legendary Ken Jennings by mere weeks. I still wonder what could have been had I actually witnessed Jeopardy history being made in person. But last night, I witnessed another historical television moment of sorts: I saw the first ever taping of a Canadian sketch show in high-definition. I know this isn't something one tells posterity in old age, but it's something to hang on to, no? Alright, you win; it's not, but I still had a great time :)


Your Favorite Jerk

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Zanta!!!

This incredible revelation will have little impact on those who aren't well-acquainted with the TTC, but for all of us TTC riders, you'll be happy to know that Zanta (aka the shirtless man who wears a Santa Clause hat while doing pushups and saying "Yes yes yes yes yes!!!!") has a fan-page and website dedicated to his exploits! Sadly, it now appears that Zanta has been banned from all TTC vehicles, Yonge/Dundas Square, Nathan Philips Square, and the area from College to King and Yonge to Spadina. For more Zanta news, videos and pictures, including court documents related to his parole and subsequent banning from many Toronto landmarks, go to http://www.torontozanta.ca. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Yes yes yes yes yes!


Your Favorite Jerk